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{{Infobox Person
|name = Craig Carton
|birth_date = 1969-01-31
|birth_place = New York.
In 2007 WFAN hired Carton to co-host the station’s morning drive show with former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason. The “Boomer & Carton” program quickly climbed local ratings and became one of the highest-profile sports talk shows in the country. <ref name="doj-carton" /> Carton’s on-air style relied on fast pacing
|charges = A ticket-resale investment scheme
|conviction_date = November 2018
|sentence = 42 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and re
|facility = FCI_Lewisburg_(minimum-security_camp)|FCI Lewisburg (minimum-security camp)]] in Pennsylvania on June 17
|status = Released
}}
'''Craig Carton''' (born January 31, 1969) is an American radio personality known for co-hosting the “Boomer & Carton” morning show on WFAN in New York from 2007 to 2017. Federal prosecutors later charged him with securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy tied to a ticket-resale investment scheme. A jury convicted him in November 2018. On April 5, 2019, Judge Colleen McMahon sentenced him to 42 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution and forfeiture that together totaled more than $4.8 million. <ref name="DOJsent">U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of New York. “Radio Talk Show Host Craig Carton Sentenced To 42 Months In Prison For Securities And Wire Fraud.” April 5, 2019. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/radio-talk-show-host-craig-carton-sentenced-42-months-prison-securities-and-wire-fraud</ref>
'''Craig Carton''' (born January 31, 1969) is an American radio personality known for co-hosting the “Boomer & Carton” morning show on WFAN in New York from 2007 to 2017. Federal prosecutors later charged him with securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy tied to a ticket-resale investment scheme. A jury convicted him in November 2018. On April 5, 2019, Judge Colleen McMahon sentenced him to 42 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution and forfeiture that together totaled more than $4.8 million. <ref name="DOJsent">U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of New York. “Radio Talk Show Host Craig Carton Sentenced To 42 Months In Prison For Securities And Wire Fraud.” April 5, 2019. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/radio-talk-show-host-craig-carton-sentenced-42-months-prison-securities-and-wire-fraud</ref>


Revision as of 21:03, 21 November 2025

Craig Carton
Born: 1969-01-31
New York.

In 2007 WFAN hired Carton to co-host the station’s morning drive show with former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason. The “Boomer & Carton” program quickly climbed local ratings and became one of the highest-profile sports talk shows in the country. [1] Carton’s on-air style relied on fast pacing

Charges: A ticket-resale investment scheme
Sentence: 42 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and re
Facility: FCI_Lewisburg_(minimum-security_camp)
Status: Released


Craig Carton (born January 31, 1969) is an American radio personality known for co-hosting the “Boomer & Carton” morning show on WFAN in New York from 2007 to 2017. Federal prosecutors later charged him with securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy tied to a ticket-resale investment scheme. A jury convicted him in November 2018. On April 5, 2019, Judge Colleen McMahon sentenced him to 42 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution and forfeiture that together totaled more than $4.8 million. [2]

Early life and career

Craig Harris Carton was born in New Rochelle, New York. He attended Syracuse University and started his broadcasting career in the early 1990s with radio jobs in Buffalo, Denver and Cleveland. [1] He built a reputation as a high-energy host who mixed sports talk with blunt personal commentary. Carton moved through several markets, including Philadelphia, before landing in New York.

In 2007 WFAN hired Carton to co-host the station’s morning drive show with former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason. The “Boomer & Carton” program quickly climbed local ratings and became one of the highest-profile sports talk shows in the country. [1] Carton’s on-air style relied on fast pacing, direct arguments, listener calls and bits that played off New York sports culture. He added television appearances and live events, which strengthened his public profile and brought more attention to the show.

During this period Carton also struggled with compulsive gambling, something he later discussed in public interviews and on his own program about addiction. Court filings and press reports describe large gambling losses at casinos and online. [3] Those losses put pressure on his finances and fed into the ticket scheme that later drew federal charges.

Carton began working with business partners on ticket-resale ventures that promised high returns. The idea was simple on paper: raise money from investors, buy blocks of tickets to popular events using supposed exclusive agreements, then resell at a profit. In practice, the agreements did not exist in the way investors were led to believe. Federal authorities later said that investor money went to gambling debts, personal expenses and repayments to earlier investors instead of the promised inventory of tickets. [4]

Federal offense and prosecution

On September 6, 2017, federal agents arrested Carton on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. [4] Prosecutors stated that Carton, Joseph Meli and Michael Wright told investors they had access to large blocks of concert and event tickets through contracts with a concert promotion company and a sports and entertainment company. In reality, those contracts did not exist. The government alleged that Carton and his partners raised roughly seven million dollars from investors and misused the funds to pay gambling debts, personal expenses and earlier investors. [5]

At trial in late 2018, prosecutors presented emails, bank records and testimony from investors and co-conspirators. The evidence showed fabricated agreements, false promises of exclusive access to tickets and transfers of investor funds that went to casinos and personal accounts instead of ticket purchases. [3] Carton’s lawyers argued that he believed the ticket business could succeed and that he intended to repay investors. The jury did not accept that view. On November 7, 2018, the jury found him guilty of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. [5]

At sentencing on April 5, 2019, Judge McMahon spoke about the damage to investors and the impact of gambling. She imposed a 42-month prison term, three years of supervised release, restitution of $4,835,186.56 and forfeiture of $4,590,000. [2] The court recognized his gambling addiction but treated it as an explanation rather than a legal defense. The Securities and Exchange Commission pursued a parallel civil case that resulted in additional financial sanctions and restrictions on future conduct in securities markets. [6]

Incarceration and prison experience

Carton reported to the minimum-security camp adjacent to FCI Lewisburg (minimum-security camp) in Pennsylvania on June 17, 2019, to begin serving his sentence. [7] The camp houses non-violent offenders in a lower security setting with dormitory housing, work details and group programs. Carton later described entering the facility “scared to death” but slowly adjusting to the structure and routines. [8]

Inside the Lewisburg camp, Carton worked as a tutor helping other inmates prepare for high school equivalency exams. [9] He also took part in a 500-hour cognitive behavioral therapy program that the Bureau of Prisons uses to address criminal thinking and addiction. [10] Programs like this are related to early-release incentives and are often discussed alongside the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), which is the main BOP substance-abuse treatment program for eligible inmates.

Reports from local and national outlets state that Carton served a little more than a year at the Lewisburg camp before transfer to community confinement. [11] In June 2020 he moved to a halfway house and later to home confinement. He completed his custodial sentence in June 2021 and finished his term of supervised release in June 2024. [1] While in custody and during re-entry, he continued to address gambling addiction through support programs and personal work.

Life after release

After release to community confinement, Carton began planning a return to radio and work related to gambling-addiction awareness. In October 2020 WFAN announced that he would return to the station as afternoon drive host on “Carton & Roberts.” [12] The move drew attention because few high-profile hosts regain a major platform after a federal conviction. Ratings data later showed that the show quickly became competitive at the top of the New York sports-talk market. [1]

Carton also launched “Hello, My Name Is Craig,” a weekly program focused on gambling addiction and recovery. The show features callers describing their experiences, interviews with experts and discussions of treatment options. [1] Through that platform he speaks about his own gambling history, his arrest, the federal case and his time at FCI Lewisburg (minimum-security camp). He emphasizes accountability, financial restitution and ongoing treatment rather than quick redemption.

Restitution payments continue to shape his financial life. Court records and press coverage note that he owes millions of dollars to victims and must direct portions of his income toward those obligations. [13] His bankruptcy filings list the Lewisburg camp as a prior address and describe the extent of his debts. [14]

By 2024 Carton had completed his supervised release. He continues to host radio and television programs and to speak publicly about gambling addiction and federal prison. His experience at FCI Lewisburg (minimum-security camp) remains a central part of his narrative about consequences and second chances.

  • Michael Wright, a co-conspirator who pleaded guilty in the same ticket-investment scheme and received a 21-month sentence. [15]
  • Joseph Meli, an associate charged in related ticket-resale fraud cases. [3]
  • WFAN, the New York sports-radio station that hosted Carton before and after his prison term. [12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of New York, "Radio Talk Show Host Craig Carton Sentenced To 42 Months In Prison For Securities And Wire Fraud," April 5, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/radio-talk-show-host-craig-carton-sentenced-42-months-prison-securities-and-wire-fraud.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of New York. “Radio Talk Show Host Craig Carton Sentenced To 42 Months In Prison For Securities And Wire Fraud.” April 5, 2019. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/radio-talk-show-host-craig-carton-sentenced-42-months-prison-securities-and-wire-fraud
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Radio Host Charged With Concert Ticket Investment Scam.” September 6, 2017. https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2017-157
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of New York. “Manhattan U.S. Attorney And FBI Assistant Director Announce Securities And Wire Fraud Charges Against Craig Carton And Michael Wright.” September 6, 2017. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-and-fbi-assistant-director-announce-securities-and-wire-fraud-0
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of New York. “Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Conviction Of Radio Talk Show Host Craig Carton For Securities Fraud And Wire Fraud.” November 7, 2018. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-conviction-radio-talk-show-host-craig-carton-securities
  6. ↑ U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Craig H. Carton, et al., Litigation Release No. 24445.” April 8, 2019. https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/2019/lr24445.htm
  7. ↑ CBS New York. “Former WFAN Host Craig Carton Begins Prison Sentence For Ticket Scam.” June 17, 2019. https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/former-wfan-host-craig-carton-begins-prison-sentence-for-ticket-scam
  8. ↑ InsideHook. “Former NYC Sports Radio King Craig Carton Reveals How He Lost It All.” October 7, 2020. https://www.insidehook.com/article/sports/craig-carton-lost-it-all-wild-card-hbo
  9. ↑ New York Post. “How Craig Carton went from ‘scared to death’ of prison to second chance at WFAN.” October 29, 2020. https://nypost.com/2020/10/29/how-craig-carton-got-back-to-wfan-scared-to-death-to-second-chance
  10. ↑ CTPost. “Report: Craig Carton released early from prison with WFAN return realistic.” June 23, 2020. https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Report-Craig-Carton-released-early-from-prison-15360032.php
  11. ↑ WFAN / Audacy. “Former WFAN Host Craig Carton Released From Prison.” June 23, 2020. https://www.audacy.com/wfan/articles/news/former-wfan-host-craig-carton-released-from-prison-report
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 NBC New York. “Craig Carton Rejoins WFAN After Prison Stint for Fraud.” October 30, 2020. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/craig-carton-rejoins-wfan-after-prison-stint-for-fraud/2695935
  13. ↑ PhillyVoice. “Out of prison, Craig Carton wants to return to radio.” September 30, 2020. https://www.phillyvoice.com/philadelphia-radio-craig-carton-wfan-hbo-wild-card
  14. ↑ Courier-Post. “Sports-radio host Craig Carton, under house arrest, files for bankruptcy.” August 22, 2020. https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2020/08/22/craig-carton-wfan-sports-radio-host-fraud-bankruptcy/3419230001
  15. ↑ U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of New York. “New Jersey Man Sentenced To 21 Months In Prison For Participation In Ticket Investment Scheme.” March 7, 2019. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/new-jersey-man-sentenced-21-months-prison-participation-ticket-investment-scheme
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